The Chicago Cubs are doubling down on one of last season’s quiet success stories. They’re moving to re-sign veteran left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar after his standout 2025 campaign on the North Side.
Pending a physical, the 38-year-old will return to a Cubs bullpen that he helped stabilize. Chicago gets a trusted late-inning arm as they shape a pitching staff built for October and the grind of 162 games.
Cubs Banking on Caleb Thielbar’s Late-Career Renaissance
For a pitcher who spent nearly his entire big-league life in Minnesota, Thielbar’s first season in Chicago looked less like a final act and more like a resurgence. After a rough 2024 with the Twins, the Cubs bet $2.75 million on a bounce-back.
They got one of the most reliable relief performances in the National League. Across 58 innings in 2025, Thielbar delivered a 2.64 ERA and tied for the team lead with 25 holds, a critical metric for setup men protecting late leads.
Those numbers came from strong underlying performance and a revamped approach on the mound. He didn’t rely on smoke and mirrors to get outs.
From “Down Year” to Dominant Setup Man
Thielbar’s turnaround in Chicago came from command, deception, and pitch mix rather than sheer velocity. His fastball averaged 92.8 mph—respectable, but not exactly overpowering these days.
The real damage came from his secondary pitches, which turned at-bats into uphill battles for hitters. Key indicators of his transformation in 2025 include:
In an era where walks and hard contact doom relievers, Thielbar excelled at avoiding both. He forced hitters to earn everything they got—something they rarely managed.
The Breaking Ball Blueprint Behind His Success
Thielbar’s arsenal works because his breaking stuff tunnels so well off his fastball. Hitters might see 92–93 mph, but it’s the late break and location that really causes headaches.
His curveball and slider were among the most effective weapons in the Cubs’ bullpen last season. The numbers back that up emphatically.
Curveball and Slider: Quietly Elite Weapons
Opponents just couldn’t square up Thielbar’s breaking pitches:
Those figures are dominant regardless of role. For a late-inning reliever working in high-leverage spots, they’re gold.
The breaking balls allowed him to neutralize both left-handed and right-handed hitters. Thielbar didn’t just serve as a traditional lefty specialist—he profiled as a true full-inning reliever.
He carried that effectiveness into the postseason, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings when the stakes were highest.
How Thielbar Fits Into the 2025 Cubs Bullpen Picture
With his return, the Cubs are quietly assembling a bullpen that blends experience, versatility, and matchup flexibility. Thielbar slots back into a high-leverage role, likely working the seventh and eighth innings depending on opponent and situation.
He joins a group that already includes fellow left-hander Hoby Milner and right-hander Phil Maton. Fireballer Daniel Palencia anchors the back end as closer.
Building the Bridge to Daniel Palencia
This relief corps hints at a clear strategy:
Thielbar’s presence gives the manager and front office flexibility. He can work in tandem with Milner to neutralize opposing left-handed power while still staying in the game to face righties.
That reduces the need for constant matchup shuffling and helps ease the workload on the rest of the staff. It’s a smart move, really—one that keeps the Cubs’ bullpen options wide open.
What Thielbar’s Return Means for the Cubs’ Offseason Plan
Re-signing Thielbar doesn’t close the door on more bullpen moves—honestly, it barely nudges it. The Cubs still have payroll room and plenty of roster flexibility. They’re reportedly in on several top free-agent arms.
Bringing back a known, productive arm just lets them be picky instead of scrambling. For Chicago, this move checks a few boxes at once. It stabilizes the late innings and rewards a veteran who stepped up when he got a fresh shot.
It also shows they’re serious about winning now, but they’re not locking themselves into a corner for the future. If Thielbar’s 2025 performance meant anything, maybe the Cubs have stumbled onto the kind of under-the-radar bullpen anchor who can quietly tip the scales in a pennant race. Wouldn’t that be something?
Here is the source article for this story: Cubs Re-Sign Caleb Thielbar
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